Where can I buy Safe Boat Skin?

Blue Lightning · 02 January 2005, 19:48

Hi
Does anyone know where I can buy Safe Boat SKin?
I am about to put my RIB into a Marina berth on the Hamble, and need to 'antifoul' her first.
Has anyone any experience of using this product all year around in Solent waters?
Thanks!
Alwyn

Paul Knowlson · 02 January 2005, 23:22

Hi, I too intend to try safeboatskin this coming season (it was recommended to me by David Brettell, Joint MD of Henshaws) after he saw it at a trade show. It is apparently tried and tested on Hypalon Tubes.

I would be most interested to hear how you get on with it!

See www.safeboatskin.com

Buy on line from www.yachtinguniverse.com

Yachting Universe,
Rest Harrow,
Smugglers Lane,
Bosham,
Chichester,
West Sussex,
PO188QW
Phone: 01243 575192
Fax: 07005 802551
Mobile: 07990 592949

Also available from the RIB Centre, Unit 9A Forge Hill Business Park, Airport Road, Cork. Tel: 00353 21 432 3234. Email: ribcentre@eircom.net. Website: www.ribcentre.net

Kind regards

Paul

Swifty · 03 January 2005, 10:32

I too would be interested to hear any testimonials regarding safe boat skin. I have been refurbishing my aged searider, and having removed all the old antifouling and filled all the dings in the bottom, am now at the crossroads.
1) to antifoul the bottom again, but what to use?
2) Use a 2 pack paint and treat with SBS. This will give her some bling and we all like that!

She would normally live on a trailler but I intend to berth her for around 4 months this year in the Medway estaury.

I am leaning towards option 2 at the moment.

Is it really as good as they claim?

DGR · 03 January 2005, 12:54

It seems to work really well on everyone elses boat - except mine!! I followed the instructions, and she was in the water for 10 weeks (too long I now realise) - and probably not used as much as anticpated - and even a power washer wouldn't shift it. It took 2 days of scrubbing to clean off the barnacles.

I suspect that it depends where and how you use your boat. However, apart from my experience, nobody seems to have anything bad to say about it - and it could always be user error!!

Dylan...

peteb · 03 January 2005, 18:20

OK, I am not a ribber, but I can say that it works fantasticly on mine, even the drive stays weed free as I applied it on that. It makes antifoul look like some old fashioned brew, but then again I am only speaking about my boat, it may not suite all. It saves ruining the hull and keeps it looking nice, but I must say that after a while it looks like a Tea stain on the bottom, but this comes off with a gentle wipe which I do on the trailer. It is meant for boats that go in and out of the water, so ideal for people who keep it on a berth but ocassionaly take it out to trailer like me. It's pretty cheap considering, so worth a punt IMHO.

The Jackeens · 03 January 2005, 19:54

Swginn seems to like safeboatskin.

He seems to have had a good experience with it.

Us

swginn · 04 January 2005, 07:41

Yep, can't say a bad thing about the stuff!! Peteb is spot on about the tea staining too, and how easily it wipes off!! Just be sure to follow the application instructions properly.

Jelly · 04 January 2005, 12:32

Humm
After 6mths of being in the water with light to moderate use and a good tidal flow I can say - what a nice barnicle growth on the tubes!

The spray-on antifoul for the outdrive not very impressed with it but it could have been worse.

The copperbot on the fibreglass worked a treat loverly and clean would highly recomend it.
Rgds
James

DGR · 07 January 2005, 15:17

Jelly,

Was it SafeBoatSkin that you sprayed on the outdrive? If so, whilst I'm still on the fence with SBS, I want to give it another go (and use up what I've got), and as I don't seem to be able to apply it properly by hand, I'm thinking of spraying it on.

How did you do it?

Dylan...

Jelly · 07 January 2005, 15:46

Hi Dylan
SBS was applied to the tubes where they make contact with the water.
Maybe we needed to apply more than one coat for the location.
Another idea is chili oil in a wax, used to use it on survey cables but it was horrible stuff to handle - I think it was classed as toxic when we disposed of it.
The out drive was sprayed with one of the leading brands spray antifoul for legs, can't remember which one. But no where near as effective as the copperbot on the hull - its great and it seals the hull!
If does two seasons it will have been worth the money.

As for removing barnicles whilst they are still wet ice scraper the little blighters being careful not to catche the tubes with the edges.
Rgds
James

dangers · 21 June 2006, 12:26

We thought we would give safeboatskin a go this year. Boat was launched in April and is now covered in weed. Conclusion; it does not work.

DGR · 21 June 2006, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangers

We thought we would give safeboatskin a go this year. Boat was launched in April and is now covered in weed. Conclusion; it does not work.

How much use does/did the boat get?

I didn't bother using it again this year (after having a similar experience to you) but mine stays reasonably clean nowadays due to the amount of use it gets. I'm still getting a little bit of growth on the tubes at the back and on the leg and transom.

D...

dangers · 21 June 2006, 14:08

Boat is in the water all the time and gets used on a regular basis i.e. 2 or 3 times a week. I think if the boat is in the water permanently SBS is not going to make much difference. I am tempted to use www.coppercoat.com next year.

Paul · 21 June 2006, 19:51

Unfortunatlely I have just bought 2 bottles. I plan to keep my RIB on a pontoon for about 6 weeks at a time and then wash it off and relaunch. I am not keen on antifouling for well known reasons. If safeboatskin is ineffective will the resultant marine growth damage the hull or just mean a lot of "elbow grease" when it comes out of water?

BogMonster · 21 June 2006, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Unfortunatlely I have just bought 2 bottles. I plan to keep my RIB on a pontoon for about 6 weeks at a time and then wash it off and relaunch. I am not keen on antifouling for well known reasons. If safeboatskin is ineffective will the resultant marine growth damage the hull or just mean a lot of "elbow grease" when it comes out of water?

The bloke I bought mine from never antifouled it and it has a few little shell like white things on it but that is all. After about 3-4 weeks out of the water on the trailer, they start looking a bit thirsty and then start to fall off

Mine has some green staining on the tubes but I have some tube cleaner on order which should hopefully blitz that.

He reckoned that there was nothing here that would actually attack either tubes or GRP but I don't know if that is true elsewhere in the world.

IanE · 21 June 2006, 20:38

I too decided to give SBS a try - on the tubes and drive ( the hull ' s anit-fouled).

Mixed results - some effect on the tubes , less on the drive - the green stuff does come off more easily, but not as effective as I'd hoped.

Its been in use for 6 weeks or so at this stage - I'll keep you posted.

It suggests 4 coats in the instructions

Ian

dangers · 22 June 2006, 08:12

Paul,
You may find that when it comes to your 6 week clean up the weed comes off more easily. Now you've got the SBS you might as well give it a go. I don't think you'll damage the hull unless you start getting agressive with the scrubbing or use abrasive cleaning materials.

Paul · 22 June 2006, 08:47

I will give it a go. I will just have to hope that the cooler waters up here will not support as much growth as in Jersey.

snakebite · 12 October 2008, 10:37

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....793#post266793